A first for the 'Bridge; a second for Thomastown

By lecamogie, Sunday, 19th November 2017 | 0 comments

Thomastown conceded three goals but still managed to outpoint St Martins in the AIB Leinster Senior Club final to retain their title on a scoreline of 0-16 to 3-6 at Netwatch Cullen Park Carlow.

Johnstownbridge of Kildare won their first Leinster Intermediate title ousting champions Myshall by 2-9 to 1-8.

Senior Club Final 

Thomastown (Kilkenny)  0-16  St. Martins (Wexford) 3-6 

Photo Gallery (iLivePhotos.com)

Goals win matches the saying goes but not this one.  Three defensive lapses helped to give St Martins a real lifeline in this very entertaining final.  In reality Thomastown always looked that little bit better and had starring roles from the likes of Anna Farrell, Niamh Donnelly. Eimear Farrell and Jenny Reddy.

Thomastown were off the mark inside 3 minutes with smartly struck points by Anna Farrell (seen receiving her Player of the Match award from Leinster Secretary Sarah Conroy) and Eimear Farrell.  But Linda Bolger showed her mettle with two pointed frees to draw level by the 6th minute.

Four scores in the opening four minutes became six in 9 minutes when following a second Eimear Farrelly point, Lettie Whelan set up Linda Bolger to level the game for the second time.

The Martins’ defence was holding up well especially Mary Barrett and Sarah O’Connor and the Wexford girls got a huge boost when a defensive slip allowed Lettie Whelan to goal in the 13th minute.

By the 22th minute, Thomastown had made up for that error with points from Niamh Donnelly (the first of 9 for the corner forward), Catherine Walsh despite a super stop from ‘keeper Mags D’Arcy, Anna Farrell and another Donnelly free.  

The champions were back in control when they were hit by a second scrambled goal again from the stick of Lettie Whelan in the 24th minute.  But Thomastown significantly secured the last score of the half from the stick of Niamh Donnelly after Mags D’Arcy once more was called into action.

Before the short whistle was blown St. Martins had another chance of a goal but the final pass went astray – a goal at that stage would have given them a big lift but probably not a match winning impetus.

Anna Farrell was the player on show, directing matters from midfield.  Her well placed free in the 55th second after the restart picked out Eimear Farrell and the sides were level.for the fourth time.

But Martins have tons of pluck and Amy Cardiff brought a huge cheer with her point in the 32nd minute  - a score that was quickly followed by a Linda Bolger 45.  Thomastown then set about taking charge of the game and St Martins would not score again until the 59th minute.  Anna Farrell was lording matters at midfield and in attack Niamh Donnelly matched her with superb finishing from frees and play.  

Thomastown struck seven points on the trot – six coming from Niamh Donnelly added to by a great score from Sinéad Brennan.  Linda Bolger whose twin Lisa was at full-forward was the main danger and as the game headed towards the 60th minute few could see a way back for them.  But they never gave up.  Intensive pressure on the Thomastown goal saw Emma Codd cut the lead to four points and from a long range free, Ciara O’Connor capitalised on more indecision in the small box to force home a third goal in the 62nd minute.  A point between the sides and one more play to come but an infringement for overcarrying halted that move with referee Alan Doheny blowing for the final time.  A second Leinster title for Thomastown - a perfect way to celebrate the club's 50th anniversary.

Player of the Match – Anna Farrell

St. Martins

M. D’Arcy, M. Morrissey, L. Carty, N. Dunne, K. O’Connor, S. O’Connor, M. Barrett, A. Cardiff (0-1), C. Foxe, A. Cronin, L. Bolger (0-4), C. O’Connor (1-0), E. Codd (0-1), L. Bolger, L. Whelan (2-0)

Subs used: Ella O’Connor

Thomastown

D. O’Keeffe, E. Corr, A. Butler, A. Holden, C. Farrell, M. Farrell, S. Walsh, J. Reddy, A. Farrell (0-2), E. Donnelly, S. Brennan (0-1), M. Farrell, N. Donnelly (0-9), C. Walsh (0-1), E. Farrell (0-3)

Subs used: Lisa Donnelly

Ref: Alan Doheny

Intermediate Club Final

Johnstownbridge 2-9 Myshall  (Carlow) 1-8

Photo Gallery (iLivePhotos.com)

10 minutes from the end of normal time a magnificent point from Olivia Jordan put champions Myshall in front.  It was their fourth point on the trot and it had the look of a match turning moment.  But three minutes later a well placed free from Johnstownbridge’s Careen Farrell forced its way through to substitute Emma Farrell.  Despite the pressure she managed to get a shot off for a point but to the joy of all in the Kildare club, the ball dipped inside the post for the match winning goal.  Another pointed free from Róisín O’Connell put four between the sides and the Kildare champions were home and intermediate holders for the first time.

Kildare intercounty player Siobhån Hurley (seen right with Camogie Association President Catherine Neary) was inspirational for her club.  Important as the final goal was – one could also make a case for her goal in the 24th minute which put team into the lead. It was a piece of individual brilliance. Having handled the ball twice, she cleverly allowed the ball to hit the deck, picked it up under fierce pressure and hammered a low unstoppable shot.   A fine point from Miriam Murphy put JTB 1-5 to 1-3 up at the break.

It was a game that Myshall might credibly argue that they could have won.  They had a tonic start with Ciara Quirke goaling in the 3rd minute from a Kate Nolan clearance.  But ‘the Bridge held their composure and a great move in the 5th minute led to a Róisín O’Connell point.  Their back line was superb with Aoife Trant, Careen Farrell and Jenna Murphy all excelling behind a very hard-working midfield of Aishling Holton and Clodagh Flanagan.

Myshall apparently haven’t lost a senior competitive game in Carlow since 1977 but on this occasion they struggled to really impose themselves for long spells.  A very industrious Marian Doyle pointed to give her side a 1-1 to 0-1 lead but bit by bit ‘Bridge’s player of the match Siobhan Hurley began to dictate matters.  A number of surging runs through the heart of the Myshall defence were threatening but the Myshall full back line were equal to the task especially corner back Aine Nolan.  But the pressure told and Siobhån Hurley split the posts from two frees and a 45 to level matters.  

Ciara Quirke was the go to player for Myshall and two pointed frees from the full-forward put the Carlow champions back in front 1-3 to 0-4 by the 20th minute before the JTB 1-1 from Hurley and Murphy that gave them a lead they would hold until the 50th minute.

Four minutes after the restart, that lead had grown to three points when Róisín O’Connell notched a pointed free to be quickly cancelled by a Ciara Quirke 45.  It was quid pro quo as Siobhån Hurley was back two minutes later with a pointed free from 55m.

One sensed that Myshall were in trouble and this feeling deepened when the normally reliable Ciara Quirke put a 24m free wide from in front of the posts.  It was a blow that might have rattled a less experienced team but centre back Kate Nolan recognised the danger and in a defiant burst upfield drove over a great point.  Her colleagues responded and further points from Ciara Quirke (free and a super score from play) set up Olivia Jordan to put them in the lead.  

They game was finely balanced but when Siobhån Hurley levelled with a 50m free – the game rolled back in favour of Johnstownbridge in the final minutes of a great game.

JTB Scorers:  Siobhán Hurley (1-5), Emma Farrell (1-0), Róisín O’Connell (0-3), Miriam Murphy (0-1)

Myshall Scorers:  C Quirke (1-5), M. Doyle (0-1), Kate Nolan (0-1), Olivia Jordan (0-1)

Player of the Match - Siobhån Hurley


Johnstownbridge 

T. Johnson, E. McEvoy, E. Hurley, E. Morgan, C. Farrell, A. Trant, J. Murphy, A. Holton, C. Flanagan, C. Moloney, S. Hurley, M.  Murphy, J. O’Donoghue, R. O’Connell, S. Beatty.

Subs Used:  Louise Codd, Emma Farrell.

Myshall

M. Doyle, L. Nolan, N. Quirke, A.Nolan, M. Nolan, K. Nolan, B. Nolan, A. Ruschitzko, T. Wilson, M. Doyle, O. Jordan, A. Behan, E. Coogan, C. Quirke, T. Bermingham.

Subs Used:  Laura Bermingham 


Ref:  Gavin Donegan



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